Sliding-door lock.



M. A. WI GHTMAN.

suome DOOR LOCK.

APPLICA'HON FILED JAN. 28, 1'9I6- 1,272,590. Patented July 16, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- ATTORNEY WITNESSES M. A. WIGHTMAN.

SLIDING DOOR LOCK.

hPPLICATlON. ElLED JAN. 28, 1916.

Patented July 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY MARK A. WIGHTMAN, OF BATH, YORK.

SLIDING-DOOR LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed January 28, 1916. Serial No. 74,923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it' known that I, MARK A. WIGHTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bath, in the county of Steu'ben and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sliding-Door Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to looks, and more particularly has for its object, the provision of a sliding door lock, which may be adapted for use upon anyform of sliding doors, such as car doors or their equivalents.

The primary object of the invention, is to provide a novel construction, wherein automatic means are so arranged as to release the locking bolt whereby the same may be received by its respective keeper.

A further. object of the invention is to provide a construction, wherein the constituent parts are simple in construction,

easily manufactured. efficient for the purpose designed, and strong and durable in use.

Also the improvements embody a novel device, wherein the sliding bolt is held in a disengaged position by suitable "retaining means, until automatically released by saidautomatic releasing means.

It is also conte-n'iplated by the inventor, to provide a sliding door lock of the character described wherein a suitable keeper is arranged, and the sliding bolt is so constructed as' to be received by said keeper upon the closing of the door.

Other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the construction will be brought out more in detail in the description to follow, which for a clear understanding of the invention, should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, form'- ing a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed for the purpose of illustration, convenient and satisfactory embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation in section, illustrating the construction in a locked po sition.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the locking bolt and its casing.

Fig. 4 is a view in prospective showing the locking bolt in detail.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view through the casing, showing the bolt in elevation and in a retracted condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like corresponding arts through-- out the several views thereof 1 and 2 are sliding doors, having arranged thereupon and in alinement, casings 3 and 4, for receiving the constituent elements of the construction. The casing 3 is provided with a guideway 5, having outwardly flaring side walls and being pivotally secured to the casing, as shown at 6, Fig. 2, the guideway being constructed from a plurality of parts and provided with a series of ears generally numbered 7, for the purpose of holding the said parts together. 8 is a sliding bolt arranged in the guideway 5 formed with a substantially squared portion 8, having an arrow head portion 9, the purpose of which shall be hereinafter described, and 10 is an elongated slot arranged in the bolt 8 and extending into the arrow head 9, one end of which is provided with an oifset portion 11.

Arranged about and secured thereto, at a suitable point, is an expanding coiled spring 1:3, which is securely attached at its remain ing end to the guideway 13 is a cross pin positioned within the walls of the casing and so arranged as to travel within the elongated slot 10 and its ofi'set portions 11. 14 designates pivoted actuating members, being constructed from substantially L- shaped plates 15 and 15, and pivotally supported, as shown at 16, one end of each being provided with an arm or dog 17, also pivotally attached thereto, there being two such actuating members, in the resent embodiment. The dog members 1 work through openings 18 formed in the casing and in alinement therewith. It may be also men tioned, for the purpose of convenience, that the casing is provided with an elongated opening, as shown at 19, for the purpose of allowing the passage of the locking bolt therethrough.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that when the doors are in a closed position the arms 17 will be urged inwardly and thus will swing the L shaped plates 15 and 15. When the doors are in. this closed position, it is obvious the sliding bolt will be in a locked position and therefore will not interfere with the swinging movement of plates 15. When, however, the doors are moved apart, and the sliding bolt is urged into the casing 3, it is obvious the bolt may be moved either upwardly or downwardly. although it is shown, for the purpose of illustration in Fig. 1 ,as moved downwardly, by the dotted lines. When the head portion 9 bears upon the lower plate 15, it is obvious it will swing this plate so as to support the arm 17 of the lower plate 15, outwardly, as illustrated in dotted lines. Of course, the upper ate will still retain the same position as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1 and at such time it will merely bear upon one of the side surfaces of the arrow head portion 9 and not upon the bevel stub portion of this arrow head. It is therefore obvious that when the doors are again moved to a closed position, the door 2 will strike upon the arm 17 of the lower plate 15 and will urge the same into the casing, thus causing the L shaped plate 15 to force the arrow head portion upwardly for causing the cross pin to move into reglstry with the slots 10 for causing the bolt to be moved by the spring pressure to its locked position. It should be understood that the bolts may be swung to either side and moved to an inoperative position, and at this time an arm of the plate into engagement and when the head of the bolt is urged will be projected although the arm.

of the remaining plate will remain in substantially the same position. The remaining plate 15 will also not be in an engagement with the beveled front portion of the arrow head portion and for this reason will not in any way hold the bolt against movement when the same is moved to such a position as to move to its locked position.

The casing 4, has arranged therein, pivoted keepers 20and 21 which are supported at 22 and 23, and provided with tapering head portions 24 and 25, which areso arranged as to form offset shoulder portions 26 and 27. 28 is an expanding coil spring bearing against the opposite ends of the keepers and supported within a suitable guideway 29. The casing 4 is provided with an elongated slotted portion 30, directly in alinement with the elongated slot 19 arranged in the casing 3, so as to facilitate the entrance of the locking bolt 8. 31 is an operating element mounted for rotation in the casing 4, provided with cam surfaces 32 and 33, and having a squared opening 34 therein, adapted to receive suitable actuating means, whereby the same may be rotated so' as to force the keepers 20 and 21 apart.

Coming now to the operation of the device, and assuming that it is desired to open the door, suitable means are inserted within the substantially squared opening 34, whereby the member 31 may be partially rotated, thereby bringing its cam surfaces into engagment with the sides of the keepers 20 and 21, forcing those elements apart, against the tension of the spring 28. When in this position, the door 2 may be moved away from the door 1, and the locking bolt 8 is then forced back into the guideway 5, arranged within the casing 3, whereupon, the cross pin 13 is engaged with one of the .ofiset jslotted portions 11 arranged at one end of the elongated slot 10, thereby servin aseflicient means for holding the locking olt 8 in a retracted position, against the .tension of the expanding spring 12. As the locking bolt 8 is forced back into the guideway 5, it is obvious, that a portion of the arrow head 9 will engage with one of the actuating members 14, causing the same to be forced into a position as shown by dotted lines, in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and allowing the remaining actuating member to assume a position as indicated by the dotted lines. In this position, with the dog 17 extended, and a$uming that it is desired to close the doors, it is to be appreciated that when the door 2 is moved into engagement with the dog 17, thereby causing the angular piece 15 to be actuated upon its pivot 16 and in doing so will raise the arrow head 9, thereb allowing the cross pin 13 to be moved a ong the offset slotted portion 11 into register with the main elongated slot 10, whereupon the expanding spring 12 will force the lockin bolt 9 outward through the openin 19 of t e casing 3 and the opening 30 of t e casing 4 into engagement with the pivoted keepers 20 and 21, and due to the tapered arrangement thereof, will force those members apart, until the arrow head portion 9 has passed the shoulders 26 and 27, whereupon, the spring 29 will return the pivoted keepers to their normal positions and securely hold the locking bolt 8- in a locked position.

From the above description taking into consideration the drawings, it will be apparent, that I have provided a sliding door lock, wherein the locking operation is entirely automatic, and is such, that the looking of the doors may be greatly expedited. This particular arrangement is especially desirable upon car doors, wherein it is necessary for workmen to close a number of various doors upon the cars and in the old form of car door lock, it is often the case, that the latching elements do not properly operate so as to grip or receive the locking bolt, consequently, leaving the car liable to robbery.

In accordance with the provision of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of my invention, together with a construction which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that different arrangements of the parts from those herein shown and described, for producing the desired results, may be employed, together with mechanical equivalents for some or all of said parts, as may be within keeping to the hereto appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim is:

1. A lock for sliding doors, including a casing, a guideway formed within the easing, a sliding spring actuated bolt adapted to be received by said guideway, an elongated slotted portion arranged longitudinally of the bolt and provided with ofi'set portions, a pin supported by the casing and traveling wlthin said slotted portion adapted to engage with the offset portions whereby the bolt is held in a retracted position, pivoted means arranged adjacent thebolt for effecting the release of said bolt, and a keeper adapted to receive the bolt.

2. A lock for sliding doors, in combination with casings, a sliding spring actuated bolt formed with an arrow head arranged in one of said casings, an elongated slotted portion having an offset end formed within the bolt and extending longitudinally thereof, a pin supported by the casing and traveling with in the said elongated slot adapted to hold said bolt in a retracted osition, means positioned adjacent the b0 t for automatically eifecting its release from the casing, pivoted keepers arranged within the second casing, a spring for closing the keepers, and means whereby the same may be opened.

3. A lock, including a bolt, a keeper, an elongated slotted portion arranged longitudinally of the bolt and provided with off set portions, means engageable with said elongated slot for holding the bolt in a retracted position, and means arranged adjacent the bolt for efi'ectin the release of the same.

4. A lock, including a bolt, a keeper, an elongated slotted portion arranged in the bolt and adapted to receive means whereby said bolt may be held in a retracted position at times, and pivoted levers arranged adjacent said bolt and engageable therewith for releasing the same when engaged with said keeper. I

5. A lock, including a casing, a keeper, a pivotal guideway in said casing, a shdable spring actuated bolt arranged in the guideway and movable therewith, fixed means mounted within the casin engageable with the bolt for maintaining the same in inoperative position, and means also engageable' with said bolt for moving the same out of engagement with said fixed means whereby the keeper will be engaged thereby at times, and said guidcway holding said bolt in an operative condition and being adapted to swing as said bolt is moved to an operative or inoperative position.

6. A lock, including a casing, a keeper, a pivotal guideway in said casing, a slidable spring actuated bolt arranged in the guideway and movable therewith, said bolt being provided with an elongated longitudinally disposed slot having an offset extremity, fixed means mounted within the casing engageable with said elongated slot and offset extremity for maintaining the same in inoperative position, and a plurality of pivotal levers engageable with said bolt for moving the same out of engagement with said fixed means whereupon the keeper will be engaged thereby at times, and said guideway holding said bolt in an operative condition and being adapted to swing as said bolt is moved to an operative or inoperative position.

7. A look including a casing, a keeper, a supporting means carried by said casing, a slidable spring actuated bolt arranged upon said supporting means, said bolt being provided with an elongated longitudinally disposed slot having an elf-set extremity, fixed means mounted within the casing engageable with said elongated slot and ofi-set extremity for maintaining the same in an inoperative position, and a plurality of pivotal levers engageable with said bolt for moving the same out of engagement with said fixed means, whereupon the keeper will be engaged thereby at times, and said supporting means holding said bolt in an inoperative position and being adapted to permit said bolt to be moved to an operative or an inoperative position.

8. A lock including a casing, a keeper, a slidable spring actuated bolt arranged within said casing, fixed means mounted within the casing and engageable with the bolt for maintainin the same in an inoperative position, an i shaped plate carried by said casing and engaging said bolt, an arm carried by late and projecting from said casing, sai arm bein adapted to be struck by a foreign object, t us causing said plate to be swung for moving said bolt out of engagement with said fixed means, whereby the bolt will engage said keeper.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

MARK A. WIGHTMAN.

Witnesses:

WV. G. DEAN, D. B. BRYAN. 

